Penn Forest is a rural enclave with access to recreation
Huddled in the Pocono Mountains, Penn Forest is a largely rural neighborhood along the Lehigh River. The enclave is surrounded by state parks and game lands, with trails meandering through the landscape and an array of mountain chalets perched on the Pennsylvania hills. Despite the seeming remoteness, Penn Forest is bisected by Interstate 476, and residents are less than 10 miles from vibrant, neighboring towns. In addition to its location, residents are drawn to Penn Forest for its access to the outdoors and housing prices, which often range below the national average. “There is a lot to do here,” says Miriam Santiago, a Realtor with Mary Enck Realty. “Right outside of Penn Forest is a small town called Jim Thorpe, and it’s always voted one of the best small towns in America. We have a lot of lake communities with pools and a lot of amenities.”
Locals in Penn Forest can take a ride through the scenic mountains in the summer and fall.
There are houses built all around Bear Foot Lake in Penn Forest.
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Mountain chalets dot the hills of the Poconos
Architectural styles in Penn Forest are characterized by diverse range of offerings. “There isn’t really a predominant home style – the houses are just so different,” Santiago says. “You have a lot of people who want the mountain look, so there are a lot of mountain chalets and ranch-style homes. Some people like the big, colonial-style homes in the mountains, and some homes sit on a few acres.” Homes in Penn Forest typically cost between $200,000 and $400,000, regardless of style. Properties near Wolf Run, a lake on the east side of Penn Forest, typically occupy the higher end of the price range. “The lake community has amenities and people do short-term rentals,” Santiago says. “There are also residential communities that people live in full-time. They have some amenities, like pools and tennis courts.” Those looking to buy in Penn Forest should also be aware that neighborhood HOAs require membership of homeowners throughout the area, with monthly dues ranging from about $30 to $60, which help with maintaining the area amenities.
Ranch homes are often on a large green lot in Penn Forest.
Mountain style chalet homes are built right into the tree line in Penn Forest.
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Education south of Penn Forest in Jim Thorpe
Students can start their education at Lawrence B. Morris Elementary School, which serves kindergarten through eighth grade and receives a C-plus from Niche. Jim Thorpe Area High School garners a B rating. The school and town are both named after Native American sports icon Jim Thorpe, who won multiple Olympic gold medals and played several sports professionally. The high school’s athletic teams compete under the moniker “Olympians” and have won championships in multiple sports.
Morris B. Elementary is where students in Penn Forest will attend until high school.
Students in Penn Forest will graduate from nearby Jim Thorpe High School.
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Stops to dine out along Route 903
Most restaurants in Penn Forest are situated on Pennsylvania Route 903. Locals can find pizza and other Italian fare at Thorpe’s 903 or Julio’s Pizza & Family Restaurant in southern Penn Forest. Farther up the road, Dom n’ Ali’s Steaks & Seafood has deck dining and a lounge, and the restaurant sits close to 903 Scoops Ice Cream Shop. Nearby, Reiley’s Pub has sandwiches, cheesesteaks and a full-service bar. In northern Penn Forest, Pocono Pizza & Eatery and Gagliano’s Pizza Restaurant also specialize in Italian dishes. For more dining options and shopping, locals head beyond Penn Forest. “Whitehall Mall is a big mall right outside of Allentown,” Santiago says, referring to the shopping destination that sits about 40 miles south of Penn Forest. “And for dinner, dining, entertainment and boutique shopping, Jim Thorpe has it all.” A Giant store stocks groceries around 15 miles south.
Penn Forest locals can grab food on the go from some of the many vendors all around Jim Thorpe.
Scoops Ice Cream Shop in Penn Forest is serving up fresh ice cream right across from Bear Foot Lake.
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Recreation on dry land or the Lehigh River
Penn Forest Township Recreational Park offers two baseball fields, a pair of tennis courts, basketball courts, a soccer field and open space for visitors. “Right outside Penn Forest Township, there is the Lehigh River, where people go white-water rafting,” Santiago says. “They have biking trails and hiking trails, and when you get into Penn Forest Township, there are different activities.”
There are several outlets for paintball in Penn Forest, including Tippmann Castle and Skirmish Paintball Fields. In addition to rafting, the Lehigh River is also popular for fishing. Hikers can trek through the Weiser State Forest on the Penn Forest Trail on the east side of the highway. To the north, Hickory Run State Park encompasses over 15,000 acres and accommodates recreation like hiking, hunting, swimming and skating, depending on season. State Game Lands 141 and 149 are both west of Penn Forest.
One of the best reasons to live in Penn Forest is the river tubing all summer long.
Recreation Park has two large tennis courts right in the center of Penn Forest.
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Access to Interstate 476 within Penn Forest
Interstate 476 is accessible less than 5 miles from many areas of Penn Forest. Central Jim Thorpe is less than 10 miles away on Route 903, while Allentown is around 40 miles south of the community. Philadelphia is about 90 miles south of Penn Forest. The Carbon Campus of St. Luke’s Hospital is among the closest medical centers, under 15 miles away in Lehighton. Lehigh Valley International Airport sits under 40 miles south and is served by four airlines, serving destinations as far south as Florida and as far west as Denver.
St Lukes Hospital in Fountain Hill is regarded as a top teaching hospital in the country.
You can catch a flight to anywhere in the world from the Lehigh Valley Airport.
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Live music takes center stage at Penn’s Peak
Each year, the Penn Forest Township Recreational Park puts on several events, including Touch-a-Truck and a series of “Movie in the Park” gatherings during the summer. South of the community in Jim Thorpe, Penn’s Peak is a prime spot for live music. The venue can hold nearly 2,000 audience members and has views of the surrounding area for miles. “They have concerts all year long and it draws people from all over,” Santiago says. “I saw Pat Benatar, Dire Straits Legacy and Todd Rundgren there. That venue is on Bear Mountain and has a restaurant attached to it with views all over.” The venue also has a recurring Summer Deck Party series in warmer months, featuring more live music.
Written By
Adam Cheek
Photography Contributed By
Vincent Mauriello
Video By
Charlie Lingner
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